Lightning announces training camp schedule

The Tampa Bay Lightning will begin training camp Friday at the Ice Sports Forum in Brandon with off-ice testing and physicals. There will be ice available for players who want to skate, but there are no organized practices. On-ice workouts Saturday, Sunday and Monday begin at 10 a.m. All are free and open to the public.

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The Tampa Bay Lightning announced the schedule for its 19th training camp, which opens with physicals and fitness testing on Friday, September 16. Though there will be optional ice time available to players on the 16th, the full squad will hit the ice on Saturday, September 17. Fans are encouraged to attend and celebrate the start of the 2011-12 Lightning season. All on-ice sessions are free and open to the public.

Camp will open at 8 a.m. on Friday morning as the first of three groups begins medical testing. The third and final group is schedule to be complete with medical and off-ice testing at 1: 15 p.m. A full breakdown of each group can be found in the schedule below. For the rest of camp the players will be broken in to two groups, blue and white, for practice, scrimmages and off-ice workouts. Saturday and Sunday's sessions will be highlighted by a scrimmage between the teams on each day along with an on-ice practice session.

On Saturday and Sunday, ThunderBug, the Lightning Girls and the Bolt Brigade will welcome fans to the Brandon Ice Sports Forum. Parking at the Ice Sports Forum is free but limited. Assorted food and beverages will be available for fans while kids can have their face painted. Select Lightning alumni will sign autographs. Lightning in-arena host Brittany Zion will be on hand to emcee the event, which will also include a number of contests and prizes.

Tickets for the Lightning's preseason games against the St. Louis Blues at the Amway Center in downtown Orlando on September 21 and against the Florida Panthers at the St. Pete Times Forum on September 23 are now on sale. For more information, or to purchase, visit tampabaylightning.com, ticketmaster.com or call 1-800-745-3000. For the best value fans are encouraged to purchase a Lightning ticket package. For more information call 813.301.6600.